Chapter Text
Starting the day early in Tokyo brought the usual complaints, wants, and worries of students waiting to get to school.
“The train’s late again.”
“What if it’s one of those mental shutdown cases?”
“Like, don’t jinx it!”
“That’d be so hilarious! Then I could totally skip my math test. My mom’s gonna be so pissed if I bomb this one.”
“You wish. Here it comes.”
“Sucks to be you!”
“You’re just gonna ditch anyway.”
“Shut up!”
“So like, what do you wanna do during break?”
Bright lights flashed, the familiar chimes pinged across the air, and the clacking on the rails drew closer. Chatters and jabbers dropped to a monotonous murmur and people of all ages gathered their things. The train had arrived.
“Thank goodness,” whispered a boy in a slightly rumpled Shujin uniform. His eyes were downcast and he had one hand gripping his school bag firmly, choosing to look through his periphery so as not to draw any negative attention. The last thing the boy wanted so early in the morning, was to be accused of looking like a murderous sociopath or a lech. Or some odd combination of both. There was already plenty of that drivel at Shujin Academy, home of the overactive imagination.
Ren braced himself and boarded the subway. When the doors shut behind him and before long, was smoothly humming along the rails, he let out a sigh of relief. He thought he’d never get used to morning rush hour when he first arrived in Shibuya.
Morgana’s prompting broke him out of his introspection. “Hey! There’s an open seat!”
He looked around quickly for anyone who might need the seat more than him. No takers.
Ren slid into the seat and hugged his school bag to his body, trying not to be too obtrusive, hoping everyone had steady legs and a strong grip on the rails.
“Don’t you have a book on you?” Came the cat’s whisper from his bag.
“Oh, right.” he whispered back.
He fished out The Illusory Popess.
‘She always found it in her heart to show mercy to others. Her sublime soul gave strength to the people.’
He nodded as he turned the page. It reminded him of a certain someone.
The train coasted to a stop. His stop.
Morgana purred. “You finished The Illusory Popess? And you managed to finish it before we got to the station. I’d say that was a pretty efficient use of your time.”
As Ren put the book away, he was already looking forward to lunch. It was Friday and that meant...
“The yakisoba pan…”
“We’re all out. Come back next week.” said the Lunch Lady flatly.
Ren hung his head dejectedly and shuffled out to the courtyard. Some students sniggered. Others pointed at him and whispered. They steered clear of the delinquent like he was someone on the warpath.
He absently made his way to the vending machines. And there sitting in the corner was the one and only student council president, munching on yakisoba pan.
“Fancy seeing you here. Care to sit?”
Makoto greeted him with a warm smile. Warmer than what he was used to seeing, and it was not simply a comparison of how everyone else treated him. Ren took care not to sit too close or too far from her.
Wait. What am I getting all self-conscious for?
“Where’s your lunch?”
“They were out of yakisoba pan...” he sighed, trying not to eye her sandwich hungrily.
“What? Here!” She ripped the sandwich in half and offered it to him.
“It’s okay. They gave me this.” he said, showing her Fried Bread.
“Please take it. I’m actually quite full.”
He smiled courteously. You’re just saying that, his expression seemed to say.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Then, how about we trade? Half of my yakisoba pan for a bite of your Fried Bread?”
“That hardly seems fair,” he chuckled. “But if it’s a trade you want then...”
Ren retrieved two drinks from the vending machine. A can of soda and canned tea. He set the tea in front of Makoto.
“Earl Green.”
She picked up the can like she was inspecting it.
“You’re not into sugary drinks, right?”
She raised both eyebrows.
He noticed that? Since when…?
Shoot. She probably doesn’t want people to think she’s some kind of health nut. I should’ve just asked her which drink she wanted.
He rubbed his neck. “Er, you always asked for water instead of juice or soda when we took a break so I thought...”
“That’s very considerate of you. I was just surprised you noticed. Thank you.” she said, promptly pulling the tab and took a sip.
Ren wolfed down his half of the yakisoba pan. It made her laugh behind one hand. He felt strangely giddy and he wanted to hear more. Somewhere where Makoto wouldn’t have to be conscientious of others in case her laughter was too loud.
“Would you like some fruit as well? I have apples and pears.”
“Thanks. Looks like you packed enough for two. It’s like you knew I’d be without lunch.” he joked. “Now I don’t have to go hungry for the rest of the day.”
“Actually, you’re helping me out.” she said, spearing a slice.
He noted the way she gracefully held one slim hand below the pear slice before taking a small bite.
“I wasn’t sure how I was going to finish all of this by myself. Sis hasn’t been coming home lately and I didn’t want to waste food. I just hope she’s been eating properly. Work just seems to consume her.”
“I see,” he said, gently. “That must be hard on you.”
“Not as hard as she has it. She’s the one earning money for our living expenses.” she replied, shaking her head sadly. “I just need to plan and budget our meals. It’s the least I can do.”
He wanted to tell her she was already doing enough with what she had, but he knew she would only compare her circumstances with her sister again.
“I’m sure she’s set aside some time for eating even if it’s somewhere outside.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Be sure to thank your sister for me.”
“If I see her...” She looked forlornly at the half-empty can of tea.
Ah. Wrong thing to say.
He took a swig of Manta. “Do you usually eat out here?”
She shook her head. “Usually I have lunch in the Student Council Room. But that’s because of all the paperwork that needs to be done. Today I got a bit of a break. I assume you don’t come around here that often either, huh?”
“Yeah. But sometimes I meet up with Ryuji (and Ann too) on the school rooftop.” he whispered, cupping his mouth with one hand in co-conspiratorial fashion.
She started and covered her mouth. “Oh! Sorry if I was keeping you.”
“No, it’s fine. We don’t meet up all the time. We just eat on our own in the classroom most days.”
“Oh. I see…”
I didn’t expect him to get so close. He probably thinks I’m weird for jumping like that.
Oh, right. Maybe I shouldn’t have reminded her about that.
The fruit was all gone now. Ren capped the container for her.
“We should eat together more often.” he remarked casually.
“Y-yeah.” She slid the empty box into her bag. “This was nice. Having lunch with you - I mean, it was a nice change of pace. Um, let me know the next time you all are eating on the school rooftop. Maybe I can join you.”
He chuckled and broke off a piece of Fried Bread for her. “Plus, if you have food that needs to disappear pronto, you can leave it to Ryuji and Ann.”
“I can see that.”
They laughed and sighed at the same time when they couldn’t think of what to say next. How long before lunch was over?
She turned away first. “Anyway, it sure is humid.”
“It’s July after all.” he said, in between bites.
“Final exams are almost here, so I hope everyone is studying. Even though we’re Phantom Thieves, we can’t forget about our grades.”
He nearly choked. “You do sound like a student council president, Makoto.”
It was meant to be a joke but Makoto didn’t catch on.
Well, I’m already in the habit of chaining myself to the desk.” she stated in that straitlaced, matter-of-fact manner of hers before lowering her eyelashes. “I’ve been an honors student for years. And I believe I carried out my duties as president without issue as well.”
Ren set his sandwich down and listened quietly.
“I’m not being sarcastic. It’s just been on my mind. But… Can I ask you something? What did you think of me before? When I was, um, just the student council president who got in your way.”
Before we became friends…
She worries about stuff like this? I wonder what brought this on?
He exhaled slowly and looked down at his hands. Makoto seemed to take that as a sign of annoyance.
“Sorry, I realize it’s an awkward question. Even now when I think back to how I treated you all, I get so irritated with myself!”
She clenched her fists. It made her recall every foolish mistake she made, every time she lost herself to emotion, every time she gave into her compulsiveness, each bad memory compounding and compounding-
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were only trying to do what you thought was right at the time.”
The self-critical voices in the back of her head were silenced in an instant. She looked up at him apologetically.
“But I suspected you with little evidence and automatically assumed you to be the enemy. I let my prejudices cloud my judgement. And after that I made so many mistakes. And I blamed it on other people. I even got you mixed up in my mess.”
“But you were able to change.” He gave her a kind smile.
“I had a little help.” She smiled back at him. He felt that same warmth envelop his heart and it left him content yet wanting.
“Now that I’m a member of this team, I want to do everything I can to help you all. So, it made me reevaluate what I’ve been doing all this time. All my studying up to this point has kept me quite narrow-minded. I think I need to broaden my horizons somewhat.”
She stood up and began pacing back and forth.
“I want to be able to understand my peers better. What they like to do, how they spend their free time, and so on and so forth. I realized I’m completely out of the loop. My own interests and the interests of my peers are so different it’s almost laughable!”
That’s not true...
“N-not that it’s meant to be a joke.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I did run an internet search though. There was a survey that said most teenagers liked to spend their time at the theater, karaoke, or the arcade.”
“Uh-huh…” he said, nodding slowly.
“It makes sense when you think about it. They’re all public places, perfect for social gatherings. But if I went there to observe by myself, it’d be weird, wouldn’t it? I don’t think there’s anyone who wouldn’t feel self-conscious doing something like that.”
Enter Yusuke.
He smiled to himself and leaned back.
“Then let’s go.”
She stopped in her tracks. “Eh?”
“To the arcade, after school.”
“Are you sure? What about your studies?”
“I’ll manage.” He shrugged.
“Are you sure?” she asked again. This time more firmly. “I appreciate the thought but if this interferes with your grades, I won’t have it.”
Ren rose to his feet and began fiddling with his hair. “Actually, I’ve been having a little trouble with math. Ms. Usami tripped us up last time with some questions on the Golden Ratio. How about it? You tutor me and once Golden and Silver Ratios come leaking out of our brains, we take a nice long break at the arcade.”
“To rot our brains even more?” She couldn’t help but laugh at his proposal. “Deal.”
“Cool.” He smiled and held his fist out to her. Makoto blinked and stared at his outstretched hand before her eyes sparked with realization. She beamed and bopped his fist.
I get it. It’s like another version of the Baton Pass. I want to try it again. If we emerge victorious from the arcade I can do it then. Okay! I’m all fired up!
The bell rang. It was regrettably time for class. They gathered their belongings and walked down the hall together. Before they parted ways to their respective classrooms, Makoto piped up:
“I...have a confession to make. I’ve never actually been to one.”
He grinned even wider. “Then you’re in for a treat. See ya after school.”